Nap of the Day: 6/4 shot to watch at Salisbury

Midweek is upon us already and things go up a notch with five Wednesday meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland. Turf racing comes from Beverley, Salisbury, Gowran Park and Ffos Las, while they race once more on the polytrack at Kempton.

There is a triple helping of Listed action, two from Salisbury and one from Gowran Park and our NAP of the day is New Century for Andrew Balding in one of those features at the Wiltshire track.

15:30 Salisbury Odds

Just three contenders are set to contest the British Stallion Studs EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury, a Listed event over a mile, but it should still prove a very interesting contest.

Aidan O'Brien's sends over Kingman colt The Parthenon and he is joined by once-raced Frankel colt Luther for the Charlie Fellowes team and NEW CENTURY representing Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy and Qatar Racing.

The Parthenon won a Gowran Park maiden over 7f on second start, having shaped quite well on debut at the Curragh (6f, good) in Group 3 company on debut in May.

The form of that Gowran success isn't all that strong and Ryan Moore's partner has to prove he wants this additional distance at this early juncture in his career.

Luther was a 250,000gns purchase and began his career with a 7f maiden win at this track in late June, doing things well having dwelt early on. This is a big jump up in class, however and against two promising rivals.

New Century has more experience after three runs than his rivals and there is more substance to his form too.

The son of Kameko was well held in a Lingfield polytrack novice on debut in June, having been quiet in the market, but he stepped up to justify favouritism at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) in novice company on his second start/turf bow.

In one start since he was second in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot over 7f last month, unable to reel back all-the-way winner Al Qudra after Charlie Appleby's Coventry Stakes fifth had set a sedate gallop in front which turned that race into something of a dash to the line late on.

New Century was caught for toe but stuck to his task well and this extra furlong promises to bring about more improvement. He has some big-race entries next month at both Doncaster's St Leger Festival and in Newmarket's Royal Lodge.

If he passes this test, he can cement a place in one of those fields and he might just be in a position to put his experience to good use in this small field scenario.

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Nap Of The Day with Betfred Insights.